Subject-Verb Agreement

It is essential to maintain agreement between the Subject and the Verb. In other words, the Verb must match the Number and Person of its Subject. Therefore, before using a Verb in a sentence, it is crucial to determine the Number and Person of its Subject. Sometimes, the Subject of a sentence is composed of two or more words. In such cases, it becomes necessary to identify how the Number and Person of the Verb will be determined. Keeping these factors in mind, a set of rules is provided below, which, upon study, will help you understand the concept of Subject-Verb Agreement more easily.

Rule 1

When -s/es is added at the end of a noun, it becomes plural, but when -s/es is added at the end of a verb, it becomes singular. That is:

Noun + s/es = Plural
Verb + s/es = Singular

Table:

Rule 2

Singular subject takes a singular verb, and plural subject takes a plural verb. For example:

Ram reads.
Ram and Mohan read.
The boy runs.
The boys run.
This book is useful.
These books are useful.

Exception:

In optative sentences:
- God save the king!
- God bless you!
- Long live our friendship!
For expressions of pure imagination or wish with phrases like I wish / as if / as though / if, a singular subject can take a plural verb:
- I wish I were a king.
- If I were a bird, I would fly to you.
- He commanded me as if he were my boss.
- Were she a bird, she would fly to me.

Rule 3

In sentences where the subject is structured as Noun + Preposition + Noun, the verb agrees with the first noun:

The water of these rivers is dirty.
The boys of this school are hard-working.
The legs of the dog of my friend are broken.
The condition of the farmers in our country is not good.
The colour of the flowers of my garden is very charming.
The flowers of my garden are charming.

Rule 4

In sentences where the subject is structured as Indefinite Number / Quantity + of + Noun, the verb agrees with the noun that follows 'of':

Plenty of eggs have been brought.
Plenty of water has been brought.
Half of the boys are absent.
Half of the mango is rotten.
Half of the mangoes are rotten.
A lot of books are to be purchased.
A lot of sugar is to be purchased.
A number of boys have come.
Most of the students have come.
Most of the dirt has been removed.

Note:

Terms indicating indefinite number/quantity include:
- a number of
- a lot of
- lot of
- plenty of
- most of
- some of
- half of
- two thirds of
- three fourths of
- all of
- part of
- a good deal of
- a great deal of
- a large number of
- majority of
- handful of
- remainder of
- none of
- a total of
- percent of
- rest of
- heaps of

Note:

The difference between "a number of" and "the number of":
- "a number of" means many (plural verb)
- "the number of" means a specific number (singular verb)
- Example:
  - A number of students have failed in the examination.
  - The number of students is increasing.
- If the percentage is before "of," the verb will always be singular. If "percent" is before "of," the verb can be singular or plural depending on the noun that follows "of":
  - The percentage of good persons is small.
  - Forty percent of the mangoes are rotten.
  - Sixty percent of the sugar has been stolen.

Rule 5

In sentences with a Singular Collective Noun + of + Plural Noun, the verb is always singular:

A team of players has come here.
A set of books has been bought.
A band of musicians has been called in.
A bunch of keys is lying on the table.
A flock of sheep is grazing in the field.
A group of people was against him.
A crowd of students is waiting outside.

Rule 6

Words like government, board, staff, committee, company, public, jury, etc., can be singular or plural. You must consistently use either singular or plural throughout:

Incorrect: The jury was divided in their opinions.
Correct: The jury was divided in its opinion.
Incorrect: The jury were divided in its opinion.
Correct: The jury were divided in their opinions.

Example:

The government has done so in its interest.
The government have done so in their interest.

Rule 7

If the subject indicates a specific distance, time, amount, or weight, it will use a singular verb even if the subject is plural:

Forty miles is a long distance to walk.
Ten rupees was given to me.
Ten hours is enough for the work.
Two years is sufficient to complete the project.
Sixty pounds is a handsome amount.
Five tons of coal is needed for the work.

Rule 8

If the subject is a person, country, or book name, use a singular verb as it indicates a single entity:

The United States of America is a rich country.
Arabian Nights is a popular book.
Lamb's Tales from Shakespeare is an interesting book.

Rule 9

When a noun is repeated after a preposition, it will be singular and the verb will also be singular:

Ship after ship is sailing by.
City after city was destroyed.
One hour after another hour is passing by.
One man after another (man) was shot dead.
Letter after letter describes her tender feelings.

Rule 10

Some nouns with two parts, such as glasses, shoes, pants, scissors, trousers, spectacles, tongs, pyjamas, are plural and will use a plural verb. If preceded by "a pair of," use a singular verb:

My scissors are sharp.
Your trousers are very loose.
My spectacles are faulty.
The shoes are too old to use.
A pair of shoes was presented to him.
A pair of scissors has been bought.

Rule 11

(a) Some words always remain in Singular form and are used with a Singular Verb. These include: furniture, scenery, luggage, information, advice, news, percentage, poetry, knowledge, dirt, dust, traffic, electricity, money, music, coffee, etc.

All his furniture is good.
All the luggage was lost.
The scenery of Kashmir is worth seeing.
The news is good.
Milton's poetry is immortal.
There was heavy traffic on the road.

(b) The words people, folk, gentry, cattle, police, children are Plural. They are used with a Plural Verb.

Some people dislike traveling.
The cattle are grazing in the field.
The police have arrested the thief.

Diseases: measles, mumps, etc.
Games: billiards, darts, etc.
Subjects: mathematics, physics, phonetics, statistics, etc.
Place names: Wales, Athens, The United States, etc.
- Measles is a dangerous disease.
- Mathematics is not an easy subject.
- The United States is a great country.

(d) In modern English, 'wages' is considered Plural.

His wages are ₹5000/- a month.
- But in this Biblical line, 'wages' is used as a Singular Noun:
  - The wages of sin is death.

Rule 12

If the subject is 'The + Adjective', the Verb will be Plural.

The poor are honest.
The rich are happy.
The old are helpless.
The blind cannot see.
The virtuous are blessed.

Rule 13

(a) 'Many a/an + Noun' + Singular Verb

Many a man was killed.
More than one book was stolen.
(Here, 'man' and 'book' are singular, and 'was' is the singular verb.)

(b) 'More than one' + Noun + Singular Verb

More than one student has failed the test.
More than one book has been stolen.

More students than one were absent.
More workers than one have been arrested.

Rule 14

In sentences where subjects are joined by words like as well as, along with, together with, with, in addition to, and not, like, unlike, including, excluding, but, except, besides, etc., the Verb agrees with the first subject.

He as well as his children is honest.
A taxi, along with five passengers, is traceless.
The teacher, together with his students, is present.
The robber, with all his gang members, was arrested.
Ram, like his parents, never tells a lie.
The thief, and not his sons, was found guilty.
The students as well as their teacher are present.

Rule 15

If subjects are joined by 'not only but also', the Verb agrees with the last subject.

Not only Ramu but also his brothers are dishonest.
Not only the students but also the teacher is not punctual.

Rule 16

"Nothing but" will always have a Singular Verb.

Nothing but water is seen.
Nothing but trees is seen.

Rule 17

Subjects such as each, every, either, neither, one, everyone, anyone, no one, someone, nobody, somebody will always take a Singular Verb.

Each boy has a pen.
Each of them has a pen.
Everyone was present.
No one is ready to do this.
Somebody has stolen my pen.
Either of them has stolen your pen.
Neither of these two boys is to be selected.
Either of your sisters is mad.
One of them knows this.

Rule 18

Words like both, many, some, and few are Plural. When used as subjects, they take a Plural Verb.

Both of them are ready to go.
Many of them have come back.
Some have been arrested.
Few persons are honest.

Note: The pronouns none and any can be either Singular or Plural.

None of them has/have come back.
Any of those cars is/are to be sold.

Rule 19

When two or more Nouns/Pronouns are joined by 'or', 'nor', 'either ... or', 'neither ... nor', the Verb agrees with the nearest Noun/Pronoun.

Either you or he is guilty.
Neither he nor I am guilty.
Either the farmer or his sons are inactive.
Neither Ram nor Sita has stolen the watch.
Are you or he to blame?
You or he is to blame.
Is the child or the parents to be blamed?

Rule 20

If the subject of a clause is a Relative Pronoun (who, which, that), the Verb will agree with the Antecedent of the Relative Pronoun. The Antecedent is the Noun/Pronoun that the Relative Pronoun refers to.

The boy who is playing is my son.
The boys who are playing are my sons.
It is I who have done this.
It is he who has done this.
I know the boys who have broken the glass.
I know the boy who has broken the glass.
The pen that is there is mine.
The pens that are there are mine.

Note: If a Relative Pronoun is preceded by 'one of + Plural Noun/Pronoun', use the Noun/Pronoun after 'of' to determine the Verb agreement, not 'one'.

He is one of those persons who do not accept bribes.

Note: If a Relative Pronoun is preceded by "one of + Plural Noun/Pronoun", use the Noun/Pronoun after "of" to determine the Verb agreement, not "one".

He is one of those persons who do not accept bribes. (Here, "persons" determines the use of "do", which is Plural.)

Rule 21:

When the words in a sentence's subject are connected by "and," the number of the verb is determined as follows:

(a) Generally, when two or more nouns or pronouns are connected by "and," the verb is used in the plural form. For example:

Ram and Shyam are going.
You and he are friends.
He and I have done this.

(b) When singular nouns connected by "and" refer to the same person or thing, the verb is in the singular form. For example:

A red and black cow is grazing in the field. (One cow that is both red and black.)
The poet and philosopher has come. (One person who is both a poet and a philosopher.)

Note: If there is only one article before a noun, it indicates that the sentence refers to the same person/thing. If there are articles before both nouns, it indicates that the sentence refers to two different people/things. For example:

The poet and the philosopher have come. (Two people—one poet and one philosopher)
The poet and philosopher has come. (One person who is both a poet and a philosopher)

(c) When two numbers are connected by "and" and followed by a verb, the verb can be in either singular or plural form. For example:

Two and two is four.
Two and two are four.

Note: Generally, people use singular verbs in such sentences. Even in mathematics books, singular verbs are used. Therefore, it's better to use singular verbs in such sentences, although using plural verbs is not considered incorrect.

(d) Some singular nouns are always connected by "and" and are commonly used together as if one noun is paired with the other. The verbs in such sentences are always in the singular form because they refer to a single concept or entity, not two separate things. For example:

Rice and curry is my favorite dish.
Bread and butter is a rich food.
The crown and glory of life is character.
Slow and steady wins the race.
A horse and carriage is waiting at the gate.
Truth and honesty is the best policy.
Whisky and soda was served at the party.
All coming and going was forbidden.

Exception: In this sentence, the verb is used in the plural form:

Time and tide wait for no man.

Note: The verbs in these sentences are in the plural form because the two nouns connected by "and" refer to two different things/persons. For example:

Eggs and milk are sold here.
Water and oil do not mix.
My uncle and my guardian have come here.
Punctuality and honesty are essential to raise a business.

(e) If singular nouns are connected by "and," and each is preceded by "each," "every," or "no," the verb is used in the singular form. For example:

Each man and each woman has equal rights.
Every day and every night brings its own pleasure.
No boy and no girl was present there.
Each and every boy was given sweets.
Every man, woman, and child was given food

Rule 22: If an apposition is used after the subject, the verb always agrees with the noun/pronoun (subject) that comes before the apposition, not with the apposition itself. For example:

I, Ram Singh, am an honest man.
You, Ram, are a wicked boy.
She, your wife, knows the fact.
You, boy, are not to go there.

In these sentences, "Ram Singh," "Ram," "your wife," and "boy" are appositions placed between two commas. The verb in the sentence agrees with the noun/pronoun before the apposition, not with the apposition itself.

Rule 23: The words "dare" and "need" can be used in two ways:

(a) As a principal verb (like "go," "eat," "laugh," etc.):

He needs a pen.
I do not need your help.
She dares to go there.
You do not dare to face your father.

(b) As a modal auxiliary verb, similar to how "can," "could," "may," "might," "must," etc., are used. In this case, the negative forms of "dare" and "need" are "dare not" and "need not." Even with a third-person singular subject, "dare not" and "need not" are used, not "dares not" or "needs not," just as we do not say "cans not" or "coulds not."

For example:

He dare not go there.
I dare not oppose him.
She need not say anything.

Thus, you can write:

He dare not go there. or,
He does not dare to go there.

However, do not write:

He dares not go there.

Rule 24: In sentences that begin with "there," the verb agrees with the actual subject of the sentence, which comes after "there." For example:

There is a boy.
There are boys.
There is no book in the box.
There are no books in the box.
Is there a car there?
Are there cars there?

Rule 25: The words "former," "latter," "following," and "undersigned" are used like pronouns, replacing nouns. When they replace singular nouns, they take singular verbs, and when they replace plural nouns, they take plural verbs. For example:

(a) Both the teacher and the students have not come today. The former is ill and the latter are absent for nothing.

(b) The following are the names of the new students.

(d) The undersigned requests the pleasure of your company today at 4 p.m. (Signed by Rakesh)

(e) The undersigned request the pleasure of your company today at 4 p.m. (Signed by Rakesh & Reena)

Note: Do not make "former," "latter," "following," or "undersigned" plural by adding "s" or "es."

Rule 26: The phrases "as follows," "as regards," and "as concerns" cannot be written as "as follow," "as regard," or "as concern," regardless of whether the noun is singular or plural. For example:

The chief points are as follows. (not "as follow")
The description is as follows. (not "as follow")